BRUSH VALLEY — Fire raced through an old, wooden two-story house along Route 259 and destroyed it Saturday night as volunteer firefighters assembled tank trucks to bring water to the scene, officials said.

The house was a total loss, according to Brush Valley Fire Chief Ed Altemus.

No one was at home when the fire began, and no one was injured during firefighting operations.

Altemus said John Brimmer owns the house and rented it to Linda Cramer.

The area, about five miles south of Brush Valley, has no public water system.

“That’s what hindered us,” Altemus said.

Firefighters first were called about 11:13 p.m. and many companies returned to their stations five hours later.